North’s insecurity self-inflicted, says Sultan

The President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday said the insecurity and other problems facing the North are self-inflicted.

The Sultan said the region should blame itself for its sundry problems.

Sultan Abubakar spoke in Kaduna at a Peace and Reconciliation Committee meeting set up by the Northern States’ Governors’ Forum.

The Sultan, who is the head of Nigerian Muslims, noted that the North has failed to address its problems.

He, however, said dialogue with aggrieved parties, rather than violence and use of force, is the solution to the insecurity in the country.

According to him, the problems facing the North will remain the problem of Nigeria because the region cannot be left alone.

Sultan Abubakar said traditional rulers tried to resolve the region’s problems, adding that they would not give up until the challenges are overcome.

The Sultan decried the inability of the government and its agencies to implement various recommendations that would have solved Nigeria’s challenges .

He said: “Let us sit and talk freely and articulate positions that will bring us out of the quagmire we put ourselves. It is important that religious and traditional rulers from various states sit together, talk freely and articulate a position as the way out of this problem we find ourselves in.

“Whatever that is happening in the North is our own doing, because we did not do what we were supposed to do. Since we know this, we have to solve our problems ourselves. So, I think it is not a bad idea that the committee was set up.

“We wrote a memorandum of about nine pages covering various issues affecting the country and the North in particular to the then Acting President and now President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) where we suggested solutions to the problems.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, attributed the security challenges in the North and other parts of Nigeria to high-level poverty.

The cleric noted that others aspects of the problem are religious.

Onaiyekan said Nigeria’s bad image has spread across the world, adding that there is need for stakeholders to end the challenge.

He added that Christianity and Islam in Nigeria are not accidents of history.

The cleric said they are God’s designs that cannot be changed by anyone.

Onaiyekan said the main problem is bad governance, adding that once this is tackled, other problems would go.

Well said Sultan, the Islamic teaching of young Muslim boys that Christains are nothing but sacrificial lambs to be slaughtered at will has to be added and then erased from the memorandum. Any religion or a group of people that uses extreme violence or even genocide as in biafra to get its way, has a short way to travel.
The northern blame is yet to begin….

Olusegub Owolabi

I agree with you Sultan but the reality on ground has surpassed mere talk; if the North and South are not united. Al quada is coming fast and will hit Nigeria within 2 years from Mali, Niger and Chad. Those who formented Boko Harma will have themselves to blame because Lagos and PortHarcourt will not be easy to hide. Northern Nigeria will not be safe for liberal Muslims that make up 80% of Northern Nigeria Mulims not to talk of the Chirstians. That is the resultant effect of hate that some politicians created to destabilize GEJ instead of coming together and solve the problem t hand, they created an armagedon for all.
Thank God there is still a solution if the Emirs and Northern Elites can stop Boko Haram because the cult will soon be out of everybody’s hand. Funding has left the hands of Nigerians and now in the hands of Jihadists in Niger, Mali and Chad

Uzoh from lagos

They cannot stop Boko haram,they encouraged boko haram thinking it will help push back invassion of christianity in the North but today the hunter is now haunted.They forgot that their moderate version of Islam to fundamentalists is not different from Christianity which appear like capitalism,hence must be fought against.
The Sultan was in the army when Norther soldiers invaded the East and killed our people for going home to stay in our separate state,today his people are levying war against Nigeria and no one is doing anything serious against them.Those arrested with arms and bombs in hand have not been charged to court but being fed in detention camps with tax payers money after killing over 6,000 Igbos and security men.This assertion is coming rather late,the moslems will protest if a film is produced in U.S or Cartoon in Denmark but has failed to protest after boko haram has ravaged the North,it callous and un-acceptable.

Enwems

I now see sincerity in you.But what about the power-crazy politicians in North?

The problem is selfishness and greed by politicians. My late father always before his death eulogized the Hausas especially moslem. Why are some of them turning to monsters now. it cant be the good muslims my father told me. it is the bad politicians. We have moslems in the south west and they are beauty to behold in inter-religious relationship. i love the South west for that. it is in the south west that you can find a moslem as cook to a christian Bishop and it is not a big deal for them. just very normal.

nwa Biafra

They have failed with their plans, now they want peace, mr sultan you knew this since why keekpt queit. GEJ is a man real man we love you for your big heart.

adewale

u ar bin sentimental GEJ is nt sincere wt his policies he is a compromise leader,

Obi Ezenna

@nwa Biafra. politice of religion and tribalism cant help us,GEJ you love is very corrupt and clueless.

cambi

The north should sit up and be the architect of their development.
Fighting a religious battle will continue to lead them to more poverty,destruction and retrogression behind other region in Nigeria and in the world in general.
Truth is bitter

middle belt

the problem is not bad govt rather than some religion view others as pegan.i think the way u bring ur child up that is hw he behaves, wat u tells ur children about athers that is wat they growth to be

Salman Farisi

The Sultan’s throne is not a political office that that requires going here and there to seek attention.
My own take of this issue is that the traditional (of course not religious) institutions have not done enough to the communitiesthey claim to be representing.If not How would it be possible for terrorists to be existing in the communities without knowing their identities? It is either they are hiding them or are not in touch with the community.
The stool of a sultan is to big to allow terrorism have its way in Nigeria. During the days of Sir Abubakar, were there no fundamentalists? why were they not able to penetrate the society? Why were they unable to make any impact on the communities they live?
The answer is: Becouse Sultan is in touch with the people. Sultan is not a politician. Sultan is not a contractor. Sultan is interested in the well being of the society. Sultan has never seen himself different from the president/ head of state when it comes to issues affecting security or welfare of the community.
This is what the present generation of “Sultans” lack.

SULEIMAN

He collected money from GEJ

Dencoji

Only time will tell. After the race we will count how many miles we’ve covered.
What a man sow he will surely reap.

Kola

Mr. Sultan, stop DOUBLETALK !!!!

Mr Saad, condemn without reservations the senseless killings of the innocent that are being carried out under the generic name of Boko Haram in the North. Be straight forward and be explicit. No cover up of the killers.
The killing of the innocent is explicitly condemned in the holy Koran. Always talking without saying something concrete is the hallmark of the Sultan since this terror campaign started. Don’t blame government but the killers. It is shocking what Bishop Onaiyekan is saying. Poverty is everywhere in Nigeria and Africa. It is not an excuse to be bombing Christians worshipping in their churches. Are the Christians in the North not affected by the poverty in the region?? Our leaders don’t think deeply. The Bishop should condemn those killing Catholics. The issue of poverty affects all Nigerians, it is not an excuse to be killing Christians and Southerners in the North.

Tony

There is nothing political about this issue. If the northern Muslims are ready to stop this jihad they can. Am sure they didn t believe t it would come to this that is why they didn’t bother. Please leave Jonathan alone. He is trying his best.. let’s pray for him

Plain Truuuth

The Sultan shud pls try and speak fearlesly as an elder. Let him state categoricaly what d north ought to have done that was nt done, wat they ar doing now which are wrong. This would serve as eye-opener to those selfish politicians who vowed to make d country ungovernable for GEJ. As far as i’m concern, the sultan has said nothing here. We ar xpctng more 4rm him.

Hon Moses

sultan should be able to make peace in his region otherwise why is he their sultan… the orientation given to their children/wards is what they are reaping today.

Sunny Akhigbe

Very well said sir! The more reason why all hands must be on deck to tackle this problem. Sokoto your base has been relatively peaceful. So why can’t other religious and traditional leaders emulate you? Let us all stop pointing acusing fingers at one another. This insecurity is not doing anyone any good. I wish the politicians will see it the way you have said it. I agree with you sir that traditional rulers in the region “would not give up until the challenges are overcome”. That is the main message and that should be the spirit. May God reward your efforts in this direction sir!

Nyoma Amean

North is reaping wht they ve sown now. The Muslims in the north thought that God is a man dat can be mocked! Are they saying dat they don’t know who are the BH? Who gave them the weapons and sent them for arms handling? Bcos they want to wipe away all the christians in the north but now is affecting them negatively. Sir Ahmadu Bello was preaching north but present leaders talked Islam and not longer north. That is how Islam has destroyed the north dat Sarduna laboured to build.Where are the institutions dat sarduna brought to the north? how many of them dat are still existing eg BON, NNN, etc . most of them are death why bcos of Islam.

Bello A S

Sultan of course u have said the truth, now see various comments from respondants.please let me ask all those that are putting the blame on the generality of Muslims in the North that please what is the findings of the security of all the Christians that were caught bombing their own churches? How did it differ from that of Boko Haram? Who is behind it? As you all said , Wallahi the truth will sooner or later be unveiled. Muslims and true chritians please continue praying Allah will surely answer.

BABA

@ bello, pple like you are the bad eggs that are not needed on forum like this. No Christian willingly produced, or bought a bomb or gun to kill his fellow Christians in Nigeria or anywhere on earth. All those alleged to have tried bombing a church were blackmailed and threatened by your killer brothers, Boko haram. So shut up and let reasonable pple talk. In short you are a shame to the Sultan as far as most comments on this forum is concerned.

The north should be sincere enough and dialogue with boko haram people to bring peace to their region, they should leave jonathan out of it. Jonathan has no personal problems with them, why is the sultan giving the impresion that they will not stop killing themselves untill jonathan diologues with them

Goldensonn

The words of the Sultan is ok, but he would have summoned all the Emirs, all top political leaders, businessmen and who is who in the northern region for a meeting where everyone will make his contributory points, there upon agree to fight the boko haram menace to a successful end.
One more step Sultan would make a difference.
Extend your preaching to all the Mosque in the northern region.
Sultan you are expected to add more degree of wisdom.

sultan tank u. but as u can see hw ds man is talkng is ur c a n talk like dat instead of dialoge he said foriegn intervention wat kind of rubish thought is dat as u old u can sugest a gud thng an u av family, relative every in d north stil calng for drones i wonder y some elder dont reason bt becos jona is deir dats y u ar jamboree.

Unless we are all sincere about the survival of this country, sectional identification of problems with sectional solutions proffered would get us no where. Therefore l wish to recommend that a commitee of selfless statesmen like Maitama Sule, Emeka Anyaoku and others like them across the six geo-political zone in the country and charged with the responsibility of identifying our problems and profar holistic solutions to them be put in place before it is too late.

I expected d sultan to list d crictical areas in which d core north actually failed its people.Poverty has nothing to do with d security problem in d north! The major culprits in my own opininion are… massive illiteracy amongst d youths,religious

Mohammed Isah

Violence is violence whether perpetrated by bh or a christian, and should be condemned. Any religious person devoid of d fear of God should have a rethink. God hates killing.

Ayuba

Violence is violence whether perpetrated by bh or a christian, and should be condemned. Any religious person devoid of d fear of God should have a rethink. God hates killing.

obinnna75

The Sultanate stands to loose the most if those boys succeed. The institution will be irrelevant.

sam owolabi

we all know that the culture of immediate gratification has deprived our leaders of the will to act.when we start thinking of the big picture as a country,then we can expect to make giant strides.the Nigerian problem is more than boko haram.let’s be relealistic.

Pastor Commander Samyoung Onwuzulike

Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and entire world lack the true knowledge of God, Allah and Jehovah. If the foundation be destroyed what can the righteous do? Christ Is Allah The Holy Ghost, God and Jehovah who built Nigeria 1914 with Baptism of Holy Ghost. He gives you President Johnathan as a sign of Jonah to confirmed that New Nigeria and New World were built with 4th Day Resurrection. The 4th day is the sign of Jonah confirmed Jesus Christ as Jonah. The Islam and Holy Ghost who died on 9/11 1996 in Kaduna Nigeria as Last Salvation Suicide Anger of Moses The Islam The Ground Zero. He died in USA on 9/11 2001 as Ground Zero for New One World of Mother Christ The Queen of the South of Wisdom to come. He was three days and three nights in the belly of the earth before He resurrected as Queen of the South to rule over men of this world. 2015 is our year of resurrection whereby the history of sign of Jonah of Nigeria which will free the world from tribulations and gives women leadership role in the Catholic Church and Islam. (Luke 11:30-33) Why Ndigbo in Nigeria are enslaved because Ndigbo were the old Hebrews who began slavery with selling of women. Therefore they are to end Nigeria tribulations with giving Nigerians the 1st Woman President as Queen of the South. Same time Pope has to ordained women Cardinal who will take over from him. To give the world the 1st woman pope. 2016 USA will have the 1st woman President. These are the signs of Jonah from President Johnathan to the world to end all Global tribulations. Although the True Mother Christ Our Grace might be male in flesh but a mother in spirit called Nne nke Obi, but to end the pride of men in this world there must be a woman in flesh to be Pope, Imam, President of Nigeria and USA.

Pastor Commander Samyoung Onwuzulike

Anger Suicide Spirit of Moses is the root of suicide people commit with anger. When Moses returned from the mountain saw that his senior brother Aaron the High Priest has made Golden Cafe for Children of Israel. He threw the Stone of the 1st law in his hand that destroyed its self and golden cafe. Moses established Islam of Mother and Son in the wilderness of Shur after they crossed the Red Sea. Wilderness of Shur was the seat of Hagar and Ishmael which is the present MACCA in Saudi Arabia where Prophet Mohammed was born.The reason God Jehovah Allah took the children of Israel and Moses from Egypt to wilderness of Shur instead from the North of Egypt which was 15 days walk to the land of Canaanthe root Joseph took the the dead body of his Father Jacob when he died to buried him in the land of Canaan their origine. The Wilderness of Shur was the seat of Hagar and Ishmael where the Ishmaelites who bought Joseph took him to be, before he was sold to Egyptians. They are to go back through that root. If Ishmaelites were middle men he bought Joseph as a slave from his brothers, it made Jesus Christ the middle man among the two thieves on the cross. Which is a sign given to us with Nigeria flag. Two Greens with white in their middle. TAKE NOTE WILDERNESS OF SHUR WHERE MOSES PERFORMED REFINERY OF DEATH TO LIFE WITH MARA THE WATER OF DEATH OF ISLAM IS THE CURRENT MACCA IN SAUDI ARABIA. IS THE REASON I ASKED PRESIDENT JOHNATHAN TO BUILD THE OIL AND GAS VILLAGE WITH REFINERY AS A SIGN TO CHANGE DEATH TO LIFE IN NIGERIA. BUT HE REFUSED. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TO FREE NIGERIANS FROM DESTRUCTION AND ANGER OF ANGELS YOU DENIED THEIR RIGHTS?

Anny

Though the sultan is late with this message which should have come long before BH wreck havoc on innocent true Nigerians and expatriates who have paid dearly for what they did not know; I mean that he should have been saying it over and over beginning from Yar’adua time, if he had his feelers on the ground in the region. Because then a lot should have been achieved by now. Should I still say congratulations for getting it right this time around? No no no no…because I lost my very brother, a professor of medicine (Head of surgery in zaria) to the bullet of an assassin who might have collected a few nairas from whoever to take his life the following day after Christmas!! And somebody is justifying it on poverty! Did my brother make him poor? From broher’s poverty he has made many healthy and rich simply through hard work. There are many decent ways of fending for life in the country and honest law abiding people are following them. Time for action by the north is belated because that history is just terrible!!!

Bassey Mark Effiong.

I think the Sultan has said it all.The northerners should find solution to their problems cos it is what they created.

What soever goes up must shualy comes down, BH are not more than a faithful God let us keep on praying.

tunde

Let the sultan convey a meeting of who is who in the north comprising those who used force to rule in the past , buhari, ibb, ciroma , atiku , lamido sanusi- mr pride etc and let them all say their view on how to move the region forward

Suki

The tragedy Boko Haram is the belief that it is a Northern problem. I definitely dont think so. The image of the country, the victims are Nigerians not JUST Northern Nigerians. I am a southener before somebody accuses me of fronting.People are dying and we are playing tribalism and sectionalism that has brought Nigeria to her knees.